_Plato_ invited one Day to Supper _Diogenes_ the Cynick with some _Sicilians_ his Friends, and caused the Banqueting Room to be adorned, out of respect to those Strangers. _Diogenes_ who was displeased with the finery of _Plato_, began to trample upon the Carpets and other Goods, and said very brutishly, _I trample upon the Pride of_ Plato: But _Plato_ answered wisely, _True_, Diogenes, _but you trample upon it through a greater Pride_. 27 _Platon_ invita un jour à souper _Diogene_ le _Cynique_ avec quelques _Siciliens_ de ses Amis, & fit orner la sale du Banquet pour faire honneur à ces Etrangers. _Diogene_ qui ne pouvoit souffrir la propreté de _Platon_, commenta à fouler aux Pieds les Tapis & les autres meubles, & dit fort brutalement: _je foule aux Pieds l’orgueil de_ Platon: & _Platon_ lui répondit sagement, _il est vray_, Diogene, _mais vous le foulez par un plus grand orgueil_. 28 _Cineas_ was in great Honour with _Pyrrhus_ King of _Epirus_, who made use of him in all his weighty Affairs, and profest that he had won more Cities by the Charms of his Eloquence, than he had taken himself by the strength of his own Arms. He perceiving the King earnestly bent upon his Expedition into _Italy_, told him in private, Sir, the _Romans_ have the Reputation of a Warlike People, and command divers Nations that are so, but suppose we overcome them, What Fruit shall we reap by the Victory? That’s a plain thing, said _Pyrrhus_; for then added he, No City will presume to oppose us, and we shall speedily be Masters of all _Italy_. And having made _Italy_ our own, return’d _Cineas_, what shall we then do? _Sicily_, said he, is near, reaching out her Hand to us, a rich and populous Island, and easily to be taken. It is probable, said _Cineas_; but having subdued _Sicily_, will that put an end to the War? If God, said _Pyrrhus_ gives us this success, these will be but the Flourish to greater Matters; for who can refrain from _Africa_ and _Carthage_, which will be soon at our beck? And these overcome, you will easily grant that none of those that now provoke us, will dare to resist us: That’s true, said _Cineas_; for ’its easiy to believe that with such Forces we may recover _Macedon_, and give Law to all _Greece_. But being thus become Lords of all, what then? Then dear _Cineas_, said _Pyrrhus_ smiling, _we will live at our ease, and enjoy our selves_. When _Cineas_ had brought him thus far; and what hinders, replied he, but that we may now do all this, seeing it is in our Power, without the expence of so much sweat and Blood? 28